Robert Half
Financial Director
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Robert Half Partnership with Happy Days
Robert Half are working in exclusive partnership with Happy Days, a Private Equity backed multi-site single operations group operating within the Nurseries and Pre-Schools sector in their search for a Finance Director. This is a newly created role following the recent decision to create a new hub in Wiltshire to support ongoing growth across the business.
Role Overview
Reporting to the CFO and as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, this role will be critical to shaping the long-term direction of the business alongside driving efficiencies through the finance function to provide tangible insight and value to stakeholders. You will lead the creation of a new Hub in Wiltshire, helping to underpin the Group’s expanding footprint. You will lead continuous improvement and transformation initiatives across the breadth of finance whilst delivering strong financial management, effective business partnering and aiding decision making.
About Happy Days
Happy Days opened their first nursery in 1991, fast forward 35 years and they now operate 44 nurseries and pre-schools across the South UK and Wales, delivering exceptional childcare and education every day! A growth journey that continues every day with an underlying ethos to support children to become strong and motivated learners for life. Taking care of 2000+ children and currently employing around 1500 team members, their passion for inspiring the next generation is at the heart of their mission.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
The Finance Director Role
You will be at the forefront of crafting the finance function within Swindon following the decision to create a second Hub, this will be balanced with ongoing M&A activity with further acquisitions and expansions on the horizon. The Finance Director will be tasked with providing efficiencies through business-as-usual areas such as month end, year end and reporting to shorten close cycles and deliver strong insight to the senior leadership team and investors.
Key Responsibilities:
- Accountable for accuracy and integrity of core finance deliverables such as month end, year end, consolidations, statutory requirements and compliance
- Develop and monitor key performance indicators across the group ensuring accountability across all levels and providing valuable insight and analysis relevant to finance and non-finance stakeholders
- Provide insight and due diligence for M&A activity, owning and improving the integration strategy to allow for planned buy and build activities
- Own the optimisation of finance related systems inclusive of the main ERP, reporting/consolidation tools and provide suggestions across automation and AI opportunities
- Lead and develop FP&A/Commercial activities turning raw data into effective reporting and visualisation that is digestible and actionable for all levels
- Manage external relationships such as investors, auditors, banks, tax authorities and legal advisors
- Work closely with the CFO and Investors on additional reporting requirements and ad-hoc information requests
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
About You
- Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
- A self-motivated, high-energy leader with evidence of developing high performing teams
- Significant change and transformation experience, ability to evaluate gaps in process and systems before delivering solutions in a cost-efficient manner
- Prior multi-site single operations or multi-revenue streams experience
- Previous experience within a PE backed environment ideally within a buy and build strategy
What’s on Offer
- £120k to £150k basic salary
- 30% bonus
- 10% non-contributory pension
- A range of attractive benefits including car allowance, enhanced leave, performance related rewards, Life Assurance and an exhaustive Employee Assistance & Wellbeing package
The successful candidate will need to be 5 days on site in the first 6 months as the new Hub is established, 3 days on site thereafter.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location